Mortgage approvals at a year high November 1, 2005 Bank of England data released yesterday sent out mixed messages, with mortgage approvals at their highest level in more than a year, but unsecured lending slowing down. Bank figures showed that house purchase approvals rose to 107,000 in September, up marginally from 106,000 in August. This puts mortgage approvals at their highest level since June [...]
AOL’s co-founder Case quits Time Warner November 1, 2005 The curtain came down yesterday on what some consider to be one of the biggest corporate mistakes of recent times as Steve Case, co-founder of AOL, quit the board of Time Warner. Case was instrumental in brokering a deal in 2000 that saw AOL merge with Time Warner creating the world’s largest media company in [...]
Telefonica agrees £18bn deal for O2 November 1, 2005 Long term takeover target O2 has agreed to a £17.7bn offer from Spanish telecoms giant Telefonica in a deal that will see yet another British phone firm fall to foreign ownership. Since leaving BT four years ago O2’s relatively small size in Europe has seen it touted as the perfect target for acquisitive rivals. O2 [...]
Owen brace sees off WBA October 31, 2005 Two goals for Michael Owen helped Newcastle move into the top half of the table with victory over West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns. Alan Shearer came on as a substitute to add the third in what was Graeme Souness’s side’s fourth win in their last six Premiership matches. Despite the defeat, West Brom remain [...]
All Blacks have a chance to erase black mark October 31, 2005 Never mind what may or may not have happened in the opening seconds of the first Test between the Lions and New Zealand in June — it is great to have the All Blacks over here. I am looking forward to watching their attempt to win a Grand Slam against the four home nations. The [...]
Monty rules Europe again October 31, 2005 A share of third place at the Volvo Masters was enough for Colin Montgomerie to clinch a record eighth European Order of Merit title. Paul McGinley of Ireland won at Valderrama after a fourth round 67 that left him on 10 under par. Sergio Garcia was second, two shots behind. However, Montgomerie — who was [...]
A reserved man October 31, 2005 The new nominee for the chairmanship of the Federal Reserve has a background in academia rather than finance and is thought to be weak on inflation. Markets are being urged to wait before rushing to judgement. Can you ever replace a god? On 24 October George W Bush made an attempt, nominating the head of [...]
Ekay heading for AIM October 31, 2005 Advertising agency Ekay is to float on AIM at the end of November, eleven years after the founder established the company. The company, which provides advertising consultancy and other services for small and medium-sized enterprises, plans to raise about £3m for a total value of £11.5m when it floats on 30 November. The chief executive [...]
Standard unveils ambitious plans for consumer market October 31, 2005 Standard Chartered is aiming to double profits from consumer banking every three to five years, it said yesterday. The London-based bank, whose activities are focused in Asia, also said it was optimistic about its prospects, as it began a briefing trip for analysts in Dubai and Korea. Shares in Standard Chartered have been climbing steadily [...]
Gas crisis is ‘unlikely’ October 31, 2005 British Gas is to hit back at speculation regarding gas shortages today, saying that it is becoming “a scare story that borders on the irresponsible”. Mark Clare, managing director of British Gas Residential, will be giving evidence at the Trade and Industry Committee inquiry on the security of gas supply, along with Ofgem and Malcolm [...]
